Dil Dhadakne Do

Zoya Akhtar is an unusual film maker. In all her three films, she tells stories of the urban rich Indians. People who have all the money but have something missing in their lives which makes them incomplete.

She is not interested in telling the stories of the poor or middle class which is great because every second Indian film maker is telling us a story from there. And she is no Karan Johar who also makes films about the rich but in an Ekta Kapoor style, over the top melodramatic.

DDD is the story of the Mehras. From the outside, a very successful and happy family. But through the eyes of their dog, Pluto, its one huge dysfucntional family. Their business is running huge losses. Mr & Mrs Mehra don't get along because of Mr. Mehra affairs away from home. Their daughter, Ayesha is unhappy with her marriage and their son, Kabir is a pilot and not interested in the family business.

Mehra's 30th wedding anniversary is suppose to a happy reunion of friends and family but slowly turns into a disaster as the family falls apart when the cracks begin to appear on surface.

DDD is one of the best films in recent times I've seen which talks about the Indian family system and beautiful highlights the flaws as we are now in the 21st century. Men are suppose to work and women are suppose to take care of home and give birth to babies.

As my summary says the movies is good in parts because Zoya, Reema and Farhan create some very interesting & thought provoking premises in the film such as Ayesha's fight with herself and then with her family, Ayesha and Kabir's bounding, on women empowerment and selfishness of parents. Women will love this film because there's a lot spoken about the role of women today.

Somehow while connecting the dots, the three somehow fail to make a complete good film. The film slows down at times and then there is Pluto's commentary which starts to irritate because its spoils some good moments. Javed Akhtar is great writer and I loved his poems in the ZMD. But here is comes down as plain preaching at times.

And then the climax. Its hilarious but also stupid. Yes, we all love a happy ending but climax goes a bit over the top.

However, the music is nice, not many songs and some beautiful camera work by Carlos Catalan. However, the main strong point of the film is the performances.

The cast sink their teeth beautifully because the characters are so well written. Never such wonderful characters of screen.

Anil Kapoor as Sr. Mehra is at his best. Once a successful business man now in trouble, a scheming businessman, a man who shameless flirts in front of his wife and a man who fails to see that his heir is his daughter and not is son, Kapoor is superb and gives one fine performance after a very long time.

On the other hand, Ranveer Singh who plays Kabir put another wonderful performance. His comic timing is superb and is unapologetic about his family. He is a man who knows is limits and openly admits that his sister Ayesha is a heir to their father's empire and not him. Check out the scene in the clinic. He'll leave u in shock and splits as he confronts his parents.

Shefali Shah nicely plays the suffering wife and mother of two who cannot find her own identity and in somewhere a failure.

However its Priyanka who stands out. She lives and breathes Ayesha. A successful entrepreneur, somewhere neglected by her parents and cannot meet the expectations of her husband and in laws. She finds comfort in her younger brother and decides to speak when the time arrives to save herself. Hats off.

Farhan and Anushka in their small roles drives important points on how society needs to change with the times.

The rest of the cast is excellent. Rahul Bose as Ayesha's husband is the perfect chauvinist and he is unapologetic about it. His mother played Zarina Wahab hams it beautifully. Wish Zarina does such roles because she did this so well. And the rest, put the dose of the Punjabi culture in every scene.

Its not a bad film but could have been a great film.

Preserving wealth is a lot of hard work. When a man has labored life long to project enviable luxury, it's essential that he appears to relish it with his family and flaunt it among his friends. Footing in a large bill every single day for a group he requested to come along on a scenic Mediterranean cruise to celebrate his 30th

wedding anniversary, Kamal Mehra (Anil Kapoor) feels the pinch of keeping appearances.

A self-made billionaire, he's still in touch with his middle-class values when it comes to matters of the money. Everything else is as superficial as it gets -- be it his jaded marriage to ace cupcake- chomper Neelam (Shefali Shah), his tediously old- fashioned expectations from kids Ayesha and Kabir (Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh) or his relationship of convenience around his equally catty tycoon friends.

Zoya Akhtar's breezy outlook and aversion for melodrama are something I've constantly appreciated in all her previous films.

Her latest Dil Dhadakne Do retains this virtue whilst exploring the woes of well-heeled lifestyles without turning them into caricatures of a dysfunctional family.

Farhan Akhtar's pat dialogs contribute significantly -- they're the best takeaway from this cruise confection. As is the spot-on timing they're delivered in.

In one fine scene, Ayesha is discussing incompatibility issues in her marriage with her mother. The latter brushes it off arguing how her husband (Rahul Bose) provides her with everything she needs. And there you have it -- "Aisa tha toh phir meri mall se shaadi kar dete (If that was the case, you should have married me to a mall ?"

In another, a hysterical Kabir goes on a spontaneous spree of puke-themed jokes ranging from 'Vomatino' to 'Louis Vomiton.'

One cannot say the same about the voice-over provided by Aamir Khan for Pluto Mehra, the darling mastiff pet of the Mehras. His sagacious captioning of scenes (in Javed Akhtar's words) robs Dil Dhadakne Do of much of its delicacy and caters to Bollywood's annoying tendency to 'see, what just happened there?'

For a script that's bold enough to sail without a plot, simply as a whimsical slice of freewheeling vacation and untapped impulses, Dil Dhadakne Do is surprisingly stale in fleshing the circumstances of its protagonists.

Bickering parents, daughter trapped in a loveless marriage, son whose heart is not in running the family business, progressive ex-flame around the corner, free-spirited Londoner facilitating a long- due coming-of-age, competitive uncles and their matchmaking-obsessed wives -- all these are lamentably one-note or familiar facets from her past work.

It's an eclectic group of impressive actors led by Anil Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Shefali Shah, making sure they own their respective parts.

Right from the moment Kapoor delivers his first punch line clad in a pair of spiffy golf pants to the final scene seizing his vivacious, winsome grin, he crackles the screen with his portrayal of a deliciously calculating Punjabi patriarch.

Alternately refined, bumbling, rascally and vulnerable, Kapoor is the life of Zoya's opulent multistarrer. Though unfairly neglected to highpoint her live-wire co-star, Shefali bites into the part of his disenchanted sounding board just as avidly as her diet in the movie.

I've always found Ranveer Singh's excessive energy to be a major deterrent but here he contains it so deftly making his low on ambition, dry-humored albeit tender Kabir a delight to watch. Easily his most realized, assured and nuanced delivery.

Priyanka Chopra's Ayesha invites judgment in her submissiveness and silence as a self- deprecating achiever who allows her husband to think he 'allows' her to work. All the more so because she doesn't look the part even if her chic styling is right on mark.

Also cast against type, Rahul Bose has more success in getting the tone of his chauvinistic mamma's boy (a terrific Zarina Wahab) just right.

Farhan Akhtar and Anushka Sharma remain at the periphery triggering romance, realization and rebellion into the complex Mehra kids. Even if their role isn't as meaty, their lovely, likable persona infuses quick, believable chemistry. There are occasions when Zoya digs into their darker spaces -- pity sex, history of infidelity only to retreat back into the safety of all that is cosmetic, chirpy just like the Mehras.

Clearly, the leisurely-paced family dreamed isn't in a rush to get anywhere.

Cinematographer Carlos Catalan's sublime visuals, whether he's capturing the gorgeous ocean, majestic heritage sites, Zoya's expressive cast, the lavish breakfast buffet of freshly baked goodies, are effortlessly attractive.

Unfortunately, it doesn't lead up to anything distinct. Despite all the gyaan Pluto belts out, the movie wraps up hastily in a rather unfulfilled, problematic manner. Except that the actors play out the ensuing irrationality with such infectious gusto, it doesn't bother straightway.

Zoya Akhtar's Dil Dhadakne Do unravels like an entire season of soap opera condensed into a nearly three-hour movie that observes the clichés surrounding the affluent through wit and warmth but is, ultimately, too facile to rise above the charming fluff.

Zoya Akhtar wants to change this World; she wants to make a dent in the Universe, and her way of doing so is changing the world view. If Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was the bromance and bon homie between close friends, then Dil Dhadakne Do is the guide using which you can liberate one's life and break the shackles which are limiting you.

Yes, everyone is saying correct: the movie could have been shorter, with some strong editing. But the canvas of this story was so huge, that 2 hours wouldn't have done justice to the whole melo-drama.

Such was the intense characterization that the audience finds itself clapping when a stubborn father decided to protect his only daughter from a failed marriage; or when a son speaks up against his mother, and makes her realize her life's greatest mistake.

DDD is a direct assault on hypocrisy, fake emotions and dogmatic life (living on someone else's expectation); which our Indian society shamelessly tries to impose.

Screenplay was absolutely flawless, script loose at some points but the impeccable acting by everyone makes it a treat to watch.

Ranveer Singh was the show stopper of this movie, with his spontaneous acting and brilliant emotions. Anil Kapoor was the pillar on which the movie is based, and Priyanka Chopra is the dark horse. She scores above Anushka, only because her role was stronger, and she grabbed more screen time. Along with Anushka, Shefali and Rahul Bose strongly support this melo-drama.

Farhan Akhtar's role was strangely reduced, when he could have been another major pillar. Maybe Zoya didn't want to show partiality! Javed Akhtar's dialogues, wonderfully recited by Aamir Khan, were strong, massively emotional and touches the heart directly.

Humor is something which the move showcases at every point of time; with every major scene. The cruise journey, and some outdoor locations, especially Istanbul and Greece were shot magnificently.

Although, collectively, there is hardly any fault with the movie, but individually, there are some minor distractions which could have been avoided. Public had this hangover of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and wanted more of Farhan. But both of these expectations will reduce your joy of watching this movie.

Zoya, we will together change this world. Soon.

The people who are saying this movie is not good clearly don't know anything about films.Dil Dhhadakne do is one of my favourite films.It is inspiring,beautiful,funny and just a full package.The film has a soul and is just a masterpiece from the director Zoya Akhtar.

Ayesha (Priyanka Chopra) and Kabir (Ranveer Singh) join friends and family on a cruise to celebrate the 30th wedding anniversary of their parents Kamal (Anil Kapoor ) and Neelam (Shefali Shah). Kamal is overbearing, and both parents are strictly traditional, as well as worrying about what others think of their family. In addition, their marriage is less than successful. During the voyage, the siblings both go against their parents wishes in matters of love, creating more discord in their family.

This is not a lighthearted movie, though it does contain some humor and romance. It is, instead, a serious drama about family dynamics, expectations, and acceptance. The plot is rich and well-written. The music and choreography are average. Kapoor gives a stellar performance as the tightly-strung, controlling father. I had previously only seen Chopra in the rom-com setting, and was pleasantly surprised by her ability to play a deeper role. Both Singh and Shah are also convincing in their roles. Rahul Bose plays Ayesha's husband, and does a fine job with varying emotions. The movie also stars Anushka Sharma and Farhan Akhtar, and both give credible performances. I was impressed by this underrated film and found it to be just about perfect. This is one I certainly recommend.

Cast also includes Aamir Khan, Zarina Wahab, Vikrant Massey and Ridhima Sud, among others.